Tommy Thompson supports some abortion rights

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson said Monday he supported a woman's right to abortion in cases of rape.

Thompson made his statement in response to comments from U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) on rape and abortion.

Akin, who is running for U.S. Senate in Missouri, told a local television there that in cases of "legitimate" rape, women's bodies have some way to prevent pregnancies and lessen the need for abortion.

Akin has not explained what he meant by that remark, apologizing later for "misspeaking." But doctors have reacted by unequivocally stating that Akin is wrong and that rape is as likely to lead to pregnancy as consensual sex.

JS

National Right to Life also had the same "rape pregnancies don't exist" argument as Akin (maybe where he got it?):

The argument was most recently – and perhaps most fully – articulated by National Right to Life president John Wilke in a 1999 essay titled “Rape Pregnancies Are Rare.” Wilke made a pretty similar case to Akin: That the “physical trauma” of rape has a way of preventing pregnancy.

“To get and stay pregnant a woman’s body must produce a very sophisticated mix of hormones,” Wilke wrote. “There’s no greater emotional trauma that can be experienced by a woman than an assault rape. This can radically upset her possibility of ovulation, fertilization, implantation and even nurturing of a pregnancy.”

And get this, did you know that one of the leaders of Planned Parenthood agreed with the body shut down during rape theory?  I didn't get the name, but Rush was interviewing someone from Feminists for Life.  I don't usually listen but I caught it in the car on my lunch break.   She gave the name of a Planned Parenthood leader who supported the same theory.

Also, did you know that Wisconsin Right to Life didn't just support but endorsed Thompson? 

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Walker praise highlighted in new Thompson ad

Gov. Scott Walker hasn’t made an endorsement in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, but it hasn’t prevented former Gov. Tommy G. Thompson from using flattering comments from Walker in a new 30-second spot.

In the commercial, Walker is quoted as calling Thompson a “hero” while serving as governor for 14 years.

The ad quotes Walker as saying that Thompson “used the line-item veto successfully more than any other governor in the country, saved taxpayers all this money, cut taxes, property taxes, income taxes, obviously was a champion of ... school choice, welfare reform.”

Walker’s comments came from an recent interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Craig Gilbert.

continue at MkeJS

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Wisconsin Family Action rates Hovde, Fitzgerald tops for Senate race

Fitzgerald, Jeff (R)	Grade: B+
Hovde, Eric (R)	Grade: B+
Neumann, Mark (R)	Grade: B
Thompson, Tommy G. (R)	Grade: C

Via YourWisconsinVote.org

There are more details on the scoring there, but you have to put in your address.

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Senate schmenate

Election season, yeah, it's never-ending.  Nationally, the Republican National Convention is August 27-30 in Tampa.  We may have to wait until then to find out who Romney's VP candidate will be.  Perhaps not Paul Ryan, but another conservative Catholic is on the list, Bobby Jindal.  There is still the Ron Paul secret delegates story in play, will be interesting to see if anything comes of that. 

Wisconsin has an open US Senate race.  Ho Hum.  Not thrilled about any of them.  None of them endorsed as 100% pro-life. 

Tommy Thompson is not a conservative.  At first a staunch advocate for embryonic stem cell research, he has since somewhat backed away from that in support of adult stem cell research(but not because embryonic stem cell research is unethical).  Thompson also loves taxpayer funded contraception programs, and worked for pharma companies that produced contraception and abortion inducing drugs. From CapTimes:

Thompson’s record as governor of Wisconsin was that of an advocate for expanding — and maintaining — access to contraception. As a recent review of his approach to the issue by the Think Progress website well notes: “(As) governor, Thompson established a state family planning program — still in effect today — that spends taxpayer dollars to provide birth control and family planning to poor women. Thompson reportedly said at the time that ‘a pregnant teen is a one-way ticket to poverty.’ ”

Nice, yeah, he's Catholic.

Mark Neumann, former gubernatorial candidate, has since gotten quite negative burning bridges even amongst allies.

Republican candidate for governor Mark Neumann said Friday he opposes abortion in all cases but does not agree with a group that endorsed him that believes birth control is wrong.

Pro-Life Wisconsin’s political action committee last month endorsed Neumann and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, the two Republicans in the race. The group opposes abortion and all forms of birth control.

“I do not agree with them on that issue,” Neumann said Friday on their opposition to birth control. “When it comes to birth control, obviously that’s something – I’d have two dozen children by now.”

Neumann, with his wife, Sue, by his side, spoke to reporters after turning in his signatures to get on the ballot. After making the comment, he joked, “If you’re going down that line, I’m going to ask my wife to leave.”

For the record, Pro-Life Wisconsin doesn't ask candidates if they are "against birth control," but they do ask if they will protect conscience rights.  Since it's so great, maybe Neumann supports public funding for contraception, ala TomTom.  The phrase is "no comment." 

Then there is Eric Hovde, not a career politician, a business owner, more or less the Ron Johnson of this primary.  He's not 100% pro-life, but he seems to be maybe the best fit.  He's polling well.  Does anyone know what religion he is?  I like the idea of an outsider coming in.  Career politicians are not in right now.  And Wisconsin voters picked Ron Johnson I think because he was a businessman and not involved with politics.  That theme resonates well with the casual voter.  Even candidates who believe in ethical exceptions in abortion legislation, anywhere from rape to birth "defects" can be educated on why they are not needed.  Personal testimonies have only strengthened the 100% pro-life cause.

So I'm still not totally decided. The primary is August 14th. 

I owe you one interview with a Sconnie candidate for congress.

MarquettePoll: Tommy Thompson leads Baldwin 49-41%

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson maintains his lead among likely GOP primary voters and leads U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin in a potential general election matchup in the latest Marquette Law School poll.

In the GOP primary, Thompson led the field with 34 percent, followed by former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann with 16 percent, businessman Eric Hovde with 14 percent and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald with 10 percent.

Among all likely voters, Thompson led Baldwin 49 percent to 41 percent. Baldwin and Neumann were tied at 44 percent, while Baldwin lead Fitzgerald 45 to 39 percent and lead Hovde 45 to 36 percent.

WisPolitics

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Mark Neumann receives pro-life endoresement in Wisconsin senate race

Also Wednesday, the Republican National Coalition for Life PAC endorsed former congressman Mark Neumann for the U.S. Senate. The group “supports Republican congressional candidates who are unconditionally pro-life.”

Thompson and Neumann, as well as businessman Eric Hovde and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), are running for the Republican nomination for Senate. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the lone Democrat in the race.

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) is retiring.

MKE JS

Marquette's "On the Issues" to feature Tommy Thompson Feb 2nd

 He was elected Governor of Wisconsin an unprecedented four times. He was Health and Human Services Secretary in the administration of President George W. Bush. Now, after a stint in the private sector, Tommy Thompson is running for public office again. What’s driving his decision, and what does he think about the current political climate in Washington and Wisconsin? Find out when the former Governor and current candidate joins us at the Law School. Marquette Law School, Eckstein Hall, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

Marquette Law

Thompson plans to run for US Senate in 2012.

HT Marquette Warrior

Tommy Thompson in Vatican for stem cell conference

Former Wisconsin Gov. and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson took part in an international conference at the Vatican on Wednesday aimed at building support for adult stem cell research. He urged President Obama to take the lead in promoting adult stem cell research, according to a report by The Hill's Healthwatch blog.

Also, the Washington Post reports that the Vatican has entered into an unusual partnership with a small biotech company in New York to promote the use of adult stem cells for treating disease.

MJS - Annysa

Virginia Zignego on Wisconsin Public Radio tomorrow

Virginia from Pro-Life Wisconsin will be on WPR tomorrow debating debating Sara Finger of the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health to discuss Pres. Obama's oppressive move to mandate private insurance companies cover contraceptive, direct sterilization coverage.  That is to say that all private insurance holders must pay for other peoples sexual disorders.

Show starts at 7am.  Podcast will be available later here.

WAWH was founded by Tommy Thompson, another... ahem... Catholic pro-abort governor.

I'm certain WPR will be fair and balanced in their moderation
</sarcasm>

Let's pray for her.

Tommy Thompson Wanted To Implant Data Chips In Humans

WASHINGTON -- "Tracking" in politics usually refers to poll numbers. But for prospective Wisconsin Senate candidate Tommy Thompson, it had another, more literal meaning when he sat on the board of a company that implants digital chips in people.

The company, VeriChip, makes something called radio frequency identification chips that are implanted in an arm, and can help doctors track a person's medical history, or can be used in high-tech security systems. They could also be used to track pets or people with advances in GPS technology.

Privacy advocates fear that the technology's potential for keeping tabs on workers, patients or even immigrants will be so enticing to businesses and governments that someday everyone could be forced to get "chipped."

Thompson, who joined the board of VeriChip in 2005 before it changed its name to PositiveID, made TV appearances for the company in which he expressed no reservations about the devices.

Huffington Post

No thanks...

CatholicVote: Wisconsin Senate seat: Paul Ryan out, Tommy Thompson in

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, announced today that he won’t run for the seat held by retiring Sen. Herb Kohl, D-WI. Ryan said he has more impact in the House, where he is Chairman of the Budget Committee. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson, R-WI, is expected to announce a candidacy for the seat. While head of Health and Human Services under President Bush, Thompson supported embryonic-destructive research. In 2007, during a short-lived presidential run, Thompson backed down from his previous support of embryonic-destructive research. At a Republican presidential primary debate held at the Reagan Library on May 3, 2007, Thompson said: “There’s so much research going on, to allow for adult stem cells to become pluripotent, which will have the same characteristics of embryonic stem cells, so you do not have to kill an embryo.”

CatholicVote

Do we have to go through this with Tommy again?